XIV - Temperance: Spiritual Power Through Harmony and the Union of Opposites

XIV Temperance

The Major Arcana Temperance, number XIV, is one of the most harmonious and balanced cards in the Tarot. It represents moderation, inner alchemy, and the continuous flow of energies seeking the union point between opposites. Far from extremes, this card signals the virtue of patience, integration, and serenity that comes from spiritual wisdom.

History and Iconography of Temperance

In the Marseille Tarot, Temperance appears as an angelic figure pouring liquid from one vessel to another, symbolizing transmutation and the balance of vital forces. The fluid movement of the waters shows the importance of adaptation and the constant pursuit of harmony.

In the Rider-Waite Tarot, the figure becomes an angel with one foot on the earth and the other in water, suggesting a bridge between the material and the spiritual. The sun in the background announces clarity and blessing, while the continuous flow of the liquid symbolizes internal alchemy: transforming the dense into the subtle, the human into the divine.

Esoteric Symbolism

  • The angel: mediator between the divine and the human.
  • The flowing water between cups: union of opposites and spiritual transmutation.
  • One foot in the water and the other on land: balance between the conscious and the unconscious.
  • The sun on the horizon: hope, illumination, and harmony.
  • The garments: symbol of purity and spiritual guidance.

On the esoteric plane, Temperance is the card of the golden mean. It reminds us that not everything is black or white, that life is built in shades, and that true strength lies in the ability to integrate opposites. This card is associated with spiritual alchemy, the art of uniting the earthly with the celestial, the physical with the spiritual, until fullness is achieved.

Numerology of Arcana XIV

The number XIV breaks down into 1 and 4, whose sum is 5. The 1 represents will and beginnings, the 4 is structure and foundation, and together they produce 5, the number of movement, adaptation, and transformation. Temperance sits at the balance point between the firmness of 4 and the dynamism of 5, showing how change can be fluid and harmonious.

The Pythagorean View

For the Pythagoreans, the number 5 was associated with the human microcosm, as it resulted from the sum of 2 (feminine) and 3 (masculine). This resonates deeply with Temperance, as its essence is the union of opposing forces to generate a higher state of harmony.

Esoteric Interpretation in Tarot

Temperance is the card of inner balance and spiritual adaptation. It appears to remind us that the soul grows in calmness, patience, and the ability to wait for the right moment. It signals healing processes, reconciliation, and the ability to find the middle ground in any situation.

Temperance Upright

When upright, it indicates balance, peace, and healing. It represents moments when energies align fluidly, relationships find harmony, and the querent attains inner serenity. It also points to patience and spiritual guidance in personal transformation processes.

Temperance Reversed

Reversed, Temperance signals imbalance and excess. It can warn of difficulty integrating opposites, impatience, or the dominance of one extreme over another. It indicates the need to pause, reconnect with inner calm, and rediscover lost harmony.

Esoteric Correspondences

  • Element: Fire and water, representing the fusion of opposites.
  • Planet: Jupiter, symbol of expansion and wisdom.
  • Hebrew letter: Samekh, related to support, balance, and the protective circle.
  • Color: Blue and white, symbols of calm, purity, and spirituality.

The Initiatic Arcana of Temperance

In initiatory schools, Temperance represented the purification of the soul. The initiate had to learn to balance internal fire with the serenity of spiritual water until becoming a complete being. It taught inner alchemy: transforming passions into virtue and attaining true wisdom.

Spiritual Message of Temperance

Temperance conveys a message of harmony, serenity, and the union of opposites. It teaches that life is not about extremes, but integration, and that wisdom lies in the golden mean. It invites us to trust the flow of existence, heal from within, and cultivate patience as a sacred virtue.

  1. Inner Balance

    Temperance teaches that serenity is the foundation of all spiritual evolution.

  2. Deep Healing

    The card signals processes of healing and reconciliation on all levels.

  3. Union of Opposites

    Inner alchemy involves integrating opposing forces to create something higher.

  4. Patience and Moderation

    The spiritual path is built calmly and without rushing.

Conclusion

The card of Temperance is a reminder that spiritual power arises from harmony and the union of opposites. Upright, it represents peace, healing, and balance; reversed, it warns of excess and loss of control. In any case, its teaching is clear: seek the middle ground, cultivate serenity, and allow inner alchemy to guide the path to fulfillment.